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CH-53E Super Stallion MH-53E Sea Dragon
A CH-53E Super Stallion with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit
General information
Type	Heavy-lift cargo helicopter
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Sikorsky Aircraft
Status	In service
Primary users	United States Marine Corps United States Navy Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (historical)
Number built	172
History
Manufactured	1978–1980s
Introduction date	1981
First flight	1 March 1974
Developed from	Sikorsky CH-53 Sea Stallion
Developed into	Sikorsky CH-53K King Stallion

The Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion is a heavy lift helicopter operated by the United States military. As the Sikorsky S-80, it was developed from the CH-53 Sea Stallion, mainly by adding a third engine, adding a seventh blade to the main rotor, and canting the tail rotor 20°. It was built by Sikorsky Aircraft for the United States Marine Corps. Developed in the 1970s, it entered service in 1981, and is planned to be in service into the 2030s. It is one of the largest military helicopters in service, and is operated from U.S. Navy ships or from land.

The Navy also operates the MH-53E Sea Dragon which fills the United States Navy's need for long-range minesweeping or airborne mine countermeasures missions, and performs heavy-lift duties for the Navy. The Sikorsky CH-53K King Stallion, which has new engines, new composite rotor blades, and a wider aircraft cabin, is set to replace the CH-53E and enter service in the 2020s. Most of the Super Stallions in service are configured as MH-53E Sea Dragons.

Development

Background

The CH-53 was the product of the U.S. Marines' "Heavy Helicopter Experimental" (HH(X)) competition begun in 1962. Sikorsky's S-65 was selected over Boeing Vertol's modified CH-47 Chinook version. The prototype YCH-53A first flew on 14 October 1964. The helicopter was designated "CH-53A Sea Stallion" and delivery of production helicopters began in 1966. The first CH-53As were powered by two General Electric T64-GE-6 turboshaft engines with 2,850 shp (2,125 kW) and had a maximum gross weight of 46,000 lb (20,865 kg), including 20,000 lb (9,072 kg) in the payload.

Variants of the original CH-53A Sea Stallion include the RH-53A/D, HH-53B/C, CH-53D, CH-53G, and MH-53H/J/M. The RH-53A and RH-53D were used by the US Navy for minesweeping. The CH-53D included a more powerful version of the General Electric T64 engine, used in all H-53 variants, and external fuel tanks. The CH-53G was a version of the CH-53D produced in West Germany for the German Army.

The U.S. Air Force's HH-53B/C "Super Jolly Green Giant" was for special operations and combat rescue, and was first deployed during the Vietnam War. The Air Force's MH-53H/J/M Pave Low helicopters were the last of the twin-engined H-53s and were equipped with extensive avionics upgrades for all-weather operation.

H-53E

In October 1967, the US Marine Corps issued a requirement for a helicopter with a lifting capacity 1.8 times that of the CH-53D that would fit on amphibious warfare ships. The US Navy and US Army were also seeking similar helicopters at the time. Before the issue of the requirement, Sikorsky had been working on an enhancement to the CH-53D, under the company designation "S-80", featuring a third turboshaft engine and a more powerful rotor system. Sikorsky proposed the S-80 design to the Marines in 1968. The Marines liked the idea, since it promised to deliver a good solution quickly, and funded the development of a testbed helicopter for evaluation.

In 1970, against pressure by the US Defense Secretary to take the Boeing Vertol XCH-62 being developed for the Army, the Navy and Marines were able to show the Army's helicopter was too large to operate on landing ships and were allowed to pursue their helicopter. Prototype testing investigated the addition of a third engine and a larger rotor system with a seventh blade in the early 1970s. In 1974, the initial YCH-53E first flew.

Changes on the CH-53E also include a stronger transmission and a fuselage stretched 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 m). The main rotor blades were changed to a titanium-fiberglass composite. The tail configuration was also changed. The low-mounted, symmetrical, horizontal tail was replaced by a larger, vertical tail, and the tail rotor tilted from the vertical to provide some lift in hover while counteracting the main rotor torque. Also added was a new automatic flight control system. The digital flight control system prevented the pilot from overstressing the aircraft.

YCH-53E testing showed that it could lift 17.8 short tons (16.1 t) (to a 50-foot (15 m) wheel height), and without an external load, could reach 170 knots (310 km/h) at a 56,000 lb (25 t) gross weight. This led to two preproduction aircraft and a static test article being ordered. At this time, the tail was redesigned to include a high-mounted, horizontal surface opposite the rotor with an inboard section perpendicular to the tail rotor then at the strut connection cants 20° to horizontal. This helps with a tilt at high speed.

The initial production contract was awarded in 1978, and service introduction followed in February 1981. The first production CH-53E flew in December 1980. The US Navy acquired the CH-53E in small numbers for shipboard resupply. The Marines and Navy acquired a total of 177.

The base-model CH-53E serves both the US Navy and Marines in the heavy-lift transport role. It is capable of lifting heavy equipment, including the eight-wheeled LAV-25 light armored vehicle and the M198 155 mm Howitzer with ammunition and crew. The Super Stallion can recover aircraft up to its size, which includes all Marine Corps aircraft except for the KC-130.

By 2017, the CH-53E reportedly required 40 maintenance hours per flight hour due to aging parts, lack of available new replacement parts, and the extension of the overall airframe lifetime.

MH-53E

The Navy requested a version of the CH-53E for the airborne mine countermeasures role, designated "MH-53E Sea Dragon". It has enlarged sponsons to provide substantially greater fuel storage and endurance. It also retained the in-flight refueling probe and could be fitted with up to seven 300-US-gallon (1136-liter) ferry tanks internally. The MH-53E digital flight-control system includes features specifically designed to help tow minesweeping gear. The prototype MH-53E made its first flight on 23 December 1981. MH-53E was used by the Navy beginning in 1986. The MH-53E is capable of in-flight refueling and can be refueled at hover. The MH-53E Sea Dragon is also used for heavy vertical delivery. The Helicopters are still in service as of the 2020s.

Additionally, a number of MH-53E helicopters were exported to Japan as the S-80-M-1 for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.

The MH-53E is tasked with mine hunting, sweeping, clearing, and can use specialized equipment such as towed rigs. With the helicopter's heavy lift abilities, it can also be used for ship-to-shore transport and vertical on-board delivery (VOD).

CH-53K

The US Marine Corps had been planning to upgrade most of their CH-53Es to keep them in service, but this plan stalled. Sikorsky then proposed a new version, originally the "CH-53X", and in April 2006, the USMC signed a contract for 156 aircraft as the "CH-53K". The Marines planned to start retiring CH-53Es in 2009 and needed new helicopters quickly. In August 2007, the USMC increased its CH-53K order to 227 helicopters. Their first flight was planned for November 2011. On 4 December 2012, Sikorsky delivered the first CH-53K, a Ground Test Vehicle (GTV) airframe.

The United States Marine Corps plans to receive 200 helicopters at a total cost of $25 billion. Ground Test Vehicle (GTV) testing started in April 2014; flight testing began with the maiden flight on 27 October 2015. In May 2018, the first CH-53K was delivered to the Marine Corps.

The U.S. Marine Corps received its first CH-53K simulator at Marine Corps Air Station New River in Jacksonville, North Carolina, on 1 May 2020. It is a Containerized Flight Training Device (CFTD) built by Lockheed Martin, Sikorsky's parent company.

On 22 April 2022, Lt. General Mark R. Wise, Deputy Commandant for Aviation, declared initial operational capability for the CH-53K. By February 2023, nearly 20 CH-53K King Stallions have been produced.

Design

Although dimensionally similar, the three-engined CH-53E Super Stallion is a much more powerful aircraft than the original Sikorsky S-65 twin-engined CH-53A Sea Stallion. The CH-53E also added a larger main rotor system with a seventh blade.

The CH-53E was designed for transporting up to 55 troops with the installation of seats along the cabin center line or 30,000 lb (13.6 t) of cargo, and can carry externally slung loads up to 36,000 lb (16.3 t). The CH-53E has incorporated the same crash-attenuating seats as the MV-22B to increase the survivability of passengers, but reduced its troop transport capacity to 30. The Super Stallion has a cruise speed of 173 mph (278 km/h) and a range of 621 miles (1,000 km). The helicopter is fitted with a forward-extendable in-flight refueling probe. It can carry three machine guns, one at the starboard side crew door; one at the port window, just behind the copilot; and a firing position on the tail ramp. The CH-53E also has chaff-flare dispensers.

The MH-53E features enlarged side-mounted fuel sponsons, and is rigged for towing various minesweeping and hunting gear from above the dangerous naval mines. The Sea Dragon can be equipped for minesweeping and cargo and passenger transportation. Its digital flight-control system includes features specifically designed to help towing minesweeping gear.

In addition, the CH-53E has been upgraded to include the helicopter night vision system, improved .50 BMG (12.7 mm) GAU-21/A and M3P machine guns, and AAQ-29A forward-looking infrared imager.

The CH-53E and the MH-53E were the largest helicopters in the Western world, until the CH-53K. They are fourth in the world to the Russian Mil Mi-26 Halo single-rotor helicopter and the enormous, twin transverse-rotored Mil V-12 Homer prototype, which could lift more than 22 tons (20 tonnes) and 44 tons (40 tonnes), respectively and the Mi-26's single-rotor predecessor Mil Mi-6, which has less payload (12 tonnes), but is bigger and has a higher MTOW of 42 tonnes. Another heavy lift helicopter family is the CH-47 Chinook, which has a twin-tandem rotor configuration, with two engines. However, it is smaller than the Super Stallion.

In comparison of the largest lifting helicopters include the Mil Mi-26 has a maximum takeoff weight of 56,000 kg (123,000 lb) and can lift up to 20,000 kg (44,000 lb) externally, the King Stallion which has a MTOW of 38,600 kg (85,000 lb) and can lift up to 16,329 kg (36,000 lb) externally, the Mil-10, with and MTOW of 28,200 kg (62,170 lb) and can lift up to 12,000 kg (26,460 lb), the Chinook, at 22,680 kg (50,000 lb) and can lift up to 9,000 kg (20,000 lb) externally, and Mi-6, at 42,000 kg (92,594 lb) and can lift up to 12,000 kg (26,460 lb), the Eurocopter AS332 Super Puma can lift 9,800 kg (21,605 lb) and can lift up to 4,800 kg (10,582 lb) externally.

Operational history

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The CH-53E Super Stallion first flew in 1974, a further development of the already developed CH-53 Sea Stallion, it would enter service 1981 with United States military. The helicopter was also used by the JASDF for many years.

1980s

The CH-53E Super Stallion entered service in 1981 with the United States Marine Corps.

The Super Stallion variant first entered service with the creation of Heavy Marine Helicopter Squadron 464 at Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina. Two more squadrons were created at Marine Corps Air Station Tustin, California, over the next several years, HMH-465 and HMH-466. In addition, one West Coast training squadron, HMT-301, was given Super Stallions as was one more East Coast squadron, HMH-772, out of a reserve base at NASJRB Willow Grove, Pennsylvania. Since then, other Marine heavy-lift squadrons have retired their CH-53As and Ds, replacing them with Es.

The Marine Corps CH-53E had its first shipboard deployment in 1983 when four CH-53E helicopters from HMH-464 deployed aboard USS Iwo Jima as part of the 24th Marine Amphibious Unit (24th MAU). During this deployment, Marines were sent ashore in Beirut, Lebanon, as peacekeepers, and established perimeters at and near the Beirut International Airport. On 23 October 1983, a truck bomb detonated by terrorists destroyed the Marine barracks in Beirut, killing nearly 240 service members as they slept. CH-53E helicopters from the 24th MAU provided critical combat support during this operation.

1990s

In 1991, two CH-53Es, along with several CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters, were sent to evacuate U.S. and foreign nationals from the U.S. embassy in Mogadishu, Somalia—Operation Eastern Exit—as violence enveloped the city during the Somalian Civil War.

During Operation Desert Storm, MH-53E shipboard-based Sea Dragons were used for mine-clearing operations in the Persian Gulf off Kuwait.

On 8 June 1995, Captain Scott O'Grady, an F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot shot down over Bosnia, was rescued by two CH-53Es.

In March 1997, CH-53E Super Stallions participated in the evacuation of nearly 900 American citizens and other civilians in Tirana, Albania as part of a non-combatant evacuation Operation Silver Wake.

2000s

On 26 October 2001, three CH-53Es aboard USS Peleliu and three CH-53Es aboard USS Bataan flew 550 miles (890 km) to secure the first land base in Afghanistan, Camp Rhino, with 1100 troops at its peak. This amphibious raid is the longest amphibious raid in history. The long-range capability of the CH-53Es enabled Marines to establish a southern base in Afghanistan, putting the war on the ground.

Super Stallions again played a major role in the 2003 invasion of Iraq. They were critical to moving supplies and ammunition to the most forward Marine units and also assisted in moving casualties back to the rear for follow-on care. Marine CH-53Es and CH-46Es carried US Army Rangers and Special Operations troops on a mission to rescue captured Army Private Jessica Lynch on 1 April 2003.

As of 2014, about 150 CH-53E helicopters were in service with the Marines and another 28 MH-53Es were in service with the U.S Navy. The CH-53 requires 44 maintenance hours per flight hour. A flight hour costs about $20,000.

In 2019, the CH-53E fleet of the USMC achieved one million flight hours since 1981.

As of the 2020s, the MH-53 Sea Dragons are still in service as are CH-53 Super Stallions, and during a recent grounding the V-22 Osprey, Sea Stallions saw increased use.

Ongoing maintenance programs have helped extend the service life of the Super Stallion fleet, which is intended to be in service at least until the 2030s.

Variants

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YCH-53E

United States military designation for two Sikorsky S-65E (later S-80E) prototypes

CH-53E Super Stallion

United States military designation for the S-80E heavy lift transport variant for the United States Navy and Marine Corps, 170 built.

MH-53E Sea Dragon

United States military designation for the S-80M mine-countermeasures variant for the United States Navy, 50 built

VH-53F

Proposed presidential transport variant, not built

S-80E

Export variant of the heavy lift transport variant, not built

S-80M

Export variant of the mine-countermeasures variant, 11 built for Japan; the last were retired in 2017. Some of these retired models were bought by the USN.

Operators

 United States

• United States Marine Corps
  • HMH-361
  • HMH-366
  • HMH-461
  • HMH-462
  • HMH-464
  • HMH-465
  • HMH-466
  • HMH-769
  • HMH-772
  • HMHT-302 training squadron
• United States Navy
  • HM-12
  • HM-15

Former operators

 United States

• United States Marine Corps
  • HM-14

 Japan

• Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
  • Air Development Squadron 51
  • Mine Countermeasures Helicopter Squadron 111

Accidents

Summary

Between 1969 and 1990, more than 200 servicemen were killed in accidents involving the CH-53A, CH-53D, and CH-53E.

The MH-53E Sea Dragon is the U.S. Navy's helicopter with the highest accident rate, with 27 deaths from 1984 to 2008. During that time, its rate of class A mishaps, meaning serious damage or loss of life, was 5.96 per 100,000 flight hours, more than twice the Navy helicopter average of 2.26. An independent investigation reported that between 1984 and 2019, 132 people died in accidents on the Navy and Marine versions of this helicopter. A 2005 lawsuit alleged that since 1993, at least 16 in-flight fires or thermal incidents involved the number-two engine on Super Stallion helicopters. The suit claimed that proper changes were not made, nor were crews instructed on emergency techniques.

Major accidents

• On 1 June 1984, a CH-53E based at Tustin was lifting a truck from the deck of a ship during an exercise when a sling attached to the truck broke. This sent a shock wave into the aircraft and caused major damage. Four crew members died in the accident.
• On 19 November 1984, a CH-53E on a routine training mission at Camp Lejeune, NC, was lifting a seven-ton howitzer before it crashed. Six people were killed, and 11 injured. It experienced a loss of tail-rotor function, lost control, and hit the ground. The cabin area was quickly consumed by the ensuing fire.
• On 25 August 1985, a CH-53E from New River, North Carolina, was flying a routine supply and passenger run from Tustin to Twentynine Palms during a training operation when it caught fire and crashed in Laguna Hills. One of the three crew members was killed and the aircraft was a total loss.
• On 9 May 1986, a CH-53E crashed during training exercises near Twentynine Palms, killing four marines and injuring another.
• On 8 January 1987, a USMC CH-53E crashed while practicing night landings for troop deployment at the Salton Sea Test Range. All five crew members were killed.
• On 18 July 1988, a Navy MH-53E from HM-15 crashed at sea about 10 miles off the San Francisco coast killing the eight man crew. It was reported to have caught fire and exploded while towing a mine-countermeasures sled. This was the first MH-53E to crash.
• On 9 May 1996, a CH-53E crashed at Sikorsky's Stratford plant, killing four employees on board. This led to the Navy grounding all CH-53Es and MH-53Es.
• On 10 August 2000, a MH-53E Sea Dragon crashed in the Gulf of Mexico near Corpus Christi and resulted in the deaths of four of the six crew members. The helicopters were later returned to service with improved swash-plate duplex bearings and new warning systems for the bearings.
• On 20 January 2002, a CH-53E crash in Afghanistan killed two crew members and injured five others. Defense Department officials said the early-morning crash was the result of mechanical problems with the helicopter.
• On 2 April 2002, a Navy MH-53E (BuNo 163051) of HM-14 crashed on the runway at Bahrain International Airport. All 18 people on board survived with only a few cases of minor injuries.
• On 27 June 2002, a Navy MH-53E Sea Dragon of Helicopter Combat Support Squadron 4 (HC-4) "Black Stallions" crashed in a hard landing at NAS Sigonella, Sicily. No one was injured, but the aircraft was written off.
• On 16 July 2003, a Navy MH-53E Sea Dragon of HC-4 "Black Stallions" crashed near the town of Palagonia, about 10 miles west-southwest of Naval Air Station Sigonella, killing the four member crew. The flight was on a routine training mission.
• On 26 January 2005, a CH-53E carrying 30 marines and one navy corpsman crashed in Al-Anbar province near Rutbah, Iraq, killing all 31 on board. A sandstorm was determined as the cause of the accident. The crash was part of the deadliest day of the Iraq War in terms of US fatalities.
• On 16 February 2005, an MH-53E from HC-4, based at Naval Air Station Sigonella, Sicily, crashed on the base, injuring the four crew members.
• On 17 February 2006, two CH-53Es carrying a combined U.S. Marine Corps and Air Force crew collided during a training mission over the Gulf of Aden, resulting in 10 deaths and two injuries.
• On 16 January 2008, a Navy MH-53E on a routine training mission crashed about 4 miles south of Corpus Christi, Texas. Three crew members died in the crash, and one crew member was treated at a local hospital.
• On 29 June 2012, a Navy MH-53E from HM-14 made an emergency landing 5 miles northeast of Pohang, South Korea, due to an in-flight fire. Though the pilots and aircrew were uninjured, the aircraft was heavily damaged by the fire.
• On 19 July 2012 a Navy MH-53E crashed 58 miles south of Muscat, Oman, during a heavy-lift operation, resulting in two deaths.
• On 8 January 2014, a US Navy MH-53E Sea Dragon crashed in the Atlantic 18 nautical miles east of Cape Henry, Virginia, with five crew members on board. Three crew members perished in the mishap.
• On 1 September 2014, a USMC CH-53E of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit crashed in the Gulf of Aden while attempting to land on the USS Mesa Verde following training operations in Djibouti. All 17 marines and 8 sailors on board were rescued.
• On 14 January 2016, two USMC CH-53Es on a night training exercise off the coast of Hawaii collided with each other, resulting in the loss of both aircraft and death of their 12 crew members; each CH-53E was carrying a crew of six.
• On 11 October 2017, a USMC CH-53E based at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma crash-landed in the Takae district of Higashi village in Okinawa. An engine fire forced a crash-landing 300 m from homes. While nobody was injured, the fire destroyed the helicopter. The US military grounded all CH-53Es in Japan, with the Japanese government calling for an indefinite grounding. The resumption of flights angered some local people and the Japanese government expressed displeasure.
• On 3 April 2018, a USMC CH-53E of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing crashed near Plaster City, California, killing four marines.
• On 7 February 2024, five U.S. marines were killed after a CH-53E crashed in San Diego County, California, U.S.

Specifications (CH-53E)

Data from U.S. Navy history, International Directory, World Aircraft

General characteristics

• Crew: 5: 2 pilots, 1 crew chief/right gunner, 1 left gunner, 1 tail gunner (combat crew)
• Capacity: 37 troops with default folding canvas seats, 55 troops with center row added, and 31 with new crash attenuating seats.
  Internal payload: 32,000 lb (14,515 kg); External payload: 36,000 lb (16,329 kg)
• Length: 99 ft 0.5 in (30.188 m)
• Height: 27 ft 9 in (8.46 m)
• Empty weight: 33,226 lb (15,071 kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 73,500 lb (33,339 kg)
• Powerplant: 3 × General Electric T64-GE-416 / GE-416A / GE-419 turboshaft engines, 4,380 shp (3,270 kW) each
• Main rotor diameter: 79 ft 0 in (24.08 m)
• Main rotor area: 4,900 sq ft (460 m) Sikorsky SC1095

Performance

• Maximum speed: 170 kn (200 mph, 310 km/h)
• Cruise speed: 150 kn (170 mph, 280 km/h)
• Never exceed speed: 170 kn (200 mph, 310 km/h)
• Range: 540 nmi (620 mi, 1,000 km)
• Combat range: 180 nmi (210 mi, 330 km)
• Ferry range: 990 nmi (1,140 mi, 1,830 km)
• Service ceiling: 18,500 ft (5,600 m)
• Rate of climb: 2,500 ft/min (13 m/s)

Armament

• Guns:
  
  • 2 × .50 BMG (12.7 × 99 mm) window-mounted GAU-21 machine guns
  • 1 × .50 BMG (12.7 × 99 mm) ramp-mounted weapons system, GAU-21 (M3M mounted machine gun)
• Other: Chaff and flare dispensers

Notable appearances in media

The documentary Who Killed Lt. Van Dorn? examines the 2014 Sea Dragon crash off Cape Henry, Virginia, and the larger maintenance and command problems surrounding the CH-53E fleet.

See also

Related development

• HH-53 "Super Jolly Green Giant"/MH-53 Pave Low
• Sikorsky CH-53 Sea Stallion
• Sikorsky CH-53K King Stallion

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

• Boeing CH-47 Chinook
• Mil Mi-6
• Mil Mi-26

Related lists

• List of active United States military aircraft
• List of rotorcraft
• List of military electronics of the United States

References

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External links

• CH-53A/D/E history page, CH-53E Archived 1 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine, and MH-53E pages on Navy.mil Archived 11 January 2014 at the Wayback Machine
• CH-53D/E page on USMC.mil
• CH-53E/S-80E page Archived 16 December 2008 at the Wayback Machine and MH-53E page on Sikorsky.com Archived 16 December 2008 at the Wayback Machine
• HELIS.com Sikorsky S-80/H-53E Super Stallion Database
• The History of Heavy Lift: Can the 1947 Vision of an All Heavy Helicopter Force Achieve Fruition in 2002?
• Vertical Envelopment and the Future Transport Rotorcraft, RAND

• United States military helicopters
• 1980s United States military transport aircraft
• Sikorsky aircraft
• 1980s United States helicopters
• Three-turbine helicopters
• Aircraft first flown in 1974
• Sikorsky H-53